Brandon Overton controlled the final 57 laps of Saturday night’s USA Nationals for the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin.
The win netted the Evans, Georgia a $50,000 payday, making him the ninth different event champion in as many years.
Unfortunately, due to the acts of others, Overton’s win won’t attract all the attention it deserves.
The attention getting moment occurred on lap 85, when a caution created one of the craziest and most shocking moments in series history. It started with a tangle between Tyler Erb and Bobby Pierce.
There was contact, then there was retaliation, and more retaliation, and more retaliation, before a crew member became involved, and ultimately a series official went flying to the ground. Erb was disqualified and towed off, while Pierce too was sent to the pits for crew members entering the racing surface. A full penalty report with additional ramifications for the incident is expected to come later this week.
Meanwhile Overton celebrated the big win in victory lane.
“I never in a million years dreamed that I would win this,” Overton said. “I’m just a boy from Georgia trying to get it done. I don’t know what to say.”
Starting from the fifth spot in the 100-lap feature, Overton quickly made his way to the second spot by lap nine behind leader Billy Moyer. While the track continued to widen out, Overton bided his time behind Moyer, sitting through a few rounds of lap traffic, before waiting to pounce when the time was right.
That time came on lap 44. With the help of lap traffic, Overton methodically watched the ever-changing surface and made his move underneath Moyer off turn two to secure the race lead.
“I was riding around and I could see the top kind of die off, then the bottom came in,” Overton saidabout track conditions. “Then I could see the bottom die off and I had to move up. I kind of knew both routes, like which line I needed to use if I had to protect. My car was really good there through the middle especially. Funny thing is, I was like a half-second slow in hot laps tonight and thought we were terrible. Everything worked out though. I was just trying to manage my tires all race long really.”
It seemed as if Overton’s biggest challenge awaited when 2018 event winner and Brandon Sheppard, roared into second on lap 56. Sheppard cut into Overton’s gap before eventually stalling out and losing momentum.
Going up in smoke on lap 85, Sheppard’s attempt at stopping Overton ended at the same time of the Erb/Pierce incident, as he was pushed back to the pits with engine trouble. From there, Overton drove away to the win.
“This is so cool man,” an enthused Overton let out. “It’s an honor for me to be in the discussions with Brandon (Sheppard) and Jimmy (Owens) this year. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do if I’m gonna be as good as those two are though. All we can do is keep going, I want to win all the time.”
Rick Eckert finished in second, with Jimmy Mars in third, Scott Bloomquist in fourth and Billy Moyer in fifth.
Ricky Weiss, Chris Simpson, Kyle Strickler, Stormy Scott and Ross Bailes rounded out the top 10.
For more information on the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
WoO Morton Buildings Late Model Series
Cedar Lake Speedway – New Richmond, WI
USA Nationals – August 8, 2020
1. 76-Brandon Overton
2. 0e-Rick Eckert
3. 28m-Jimmy Mars
4. 0-Scott Bloomquist
5. 21-Billy Moyer
6. 7-Ricky Weiss
7. 32s-Chris Simpson
8. 8-Kyle Strickler
9. 2s-Stormy Scott
10. 58-Ross Bailes
11. 97-Cade Dillard
12. B1-Brent Larson
13. 3s-Brian Shirley
14. 98-Jason Rauen
15. 99jr-Frank Heckenast
16. 1-Brandon Sheppard
17. 32-Bobby Pierce
18. 20-Jimmy Owens
19. 29v-Darrell Lanigan
20. 157-Mike Marlar
21. 28-Dennis Erb
22. 19r-Ryan Gustin
23. 18-Chase Junghans
24. 55c-Chad Mahder
25. 40b-Kyle Bronson
26. 18b-Shannon Babb
27. 12-Ashton Winger
28. 1t-Tyler Erb
